The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-11-12
DECLINE OF MANNERS.
A claim Tint Modern society is ~ Sound
as That OF Former Ages.

A Claim Tint Modern Society is as Sound
as That OF Former Ages.
There Is vast amount of twaddle
talked and written about tho bad man
ners of the period. The critics Of our
times are however, only tho superficial
observers, for manners are rs good as
they ever were, only they are less con-
spicuous and Ubtrusive. That positive
rudencss from men to women are more
noticeable now than formerly, is true
enough. This follows naturally the
appearance of women in the active con-
Germs of life. When the gentler sex
goes into business 1t must expect to be
dealt with on business principles, and
1t comes into contact with men who
have had no relations with women aside
from those of their own homes. Men
who are polite at home and who are
well-bred, carry their politcness into
their offices, and the atmosphere of
many places of business is the better
for the presence of women. But 1t is
also true that gentle women arc now
meeting with more ill-bred men than
they used to SEQ in the days of tho
gentleman of the old school,
We believe 1t to be the fact that tho
class of people from whom we expect
fine manners is larger than it ever was.
It is also true that the other class is
more numerous, and it unfortunately
constitutes an important part of the
hmm n 4, fo,r,f1ty tr no fhnf a
and weakness are as tenderly cared for
as they used to be, that there is as
much Difference to superiority, although
there is not SO much scrvility. and po-
likeness is less elaborate. We certainly
would not return to the formal lam
gnage of compliment that obtained in
the last century and the century before,
and, while we speak of the "gentle-
man of the old SCHOOL, with certain
reverence, we do not initiate him, and
we would not have any of his traits ex-
cept the kindliness and self-respect
which are the foundation of all fine
manners.
The excuse for the current criticism
of superficial observers is furnished by
two classes of the community. The
man who drives hack and the man
who blaclens your boots have not the
politeness of the old day, simply be.
cause they have not the servility.
There was no genuineness in the old
fashioned servant Of the people, and
there was in the breezy manners of tho
old-fashioned fireman. Our hack
drivers are quite rs polite as the cab
bies of London, and as polite as all
rude men will be who feel that they
are independent of their employers.
We can't consider the manners
of the street when we are talking
about the manners of the day.
We must seek our examples
among people who pretend to govern
their relations toward one another by
the code of the polite world. The
second class which give an excuse for
criticism is composed of the dudes and
Anglomaniacs-the people who are the
ostentatious members of an osten-
tatious and thoroughly sham society
1t is not pleasant, we own, nor
encouraging, to hear -trousered
and large-bustled youth address one
another as if there were no difference
of sex. "Old Chappie' is well enough
in its small way, but "Old Girl" is not
we'll at all on masculine lips, for it be-
tokens familiarity that is damaging
to the femininity of the woman adj
dressed. And yet even dudes have
better manners than they seem to have,
and are entitled to much more respect
than they receive. They have manly
virtues, and underneath their rude IA
miliarity they have elements of good
breeding. They are often kind and
charitable, and, in serious matters, they
are considerate. 1t is true that they
have an insolent liberation for those
who are not of their set, but they are
appreciative of the talents of the lower
orders, whether they be intellectual or
muscular. The world can afford to be
amused by the dude, for, after all, he
does not set the fashion of his time.
The best society of our modern Amer
lean life is outside of him and beyond
his comprehension, and that society is
sound to the core, and its intercourse is
as agreeable and polite as has been that
of any previous age.--M Y. Mail and
Express.